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Thrills amid chills

Brian Metzler, Special to the Rocky

Published October 30, 2007 at midnight

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Just because winter is coming doesn't mean you should put your bike away until spring. While mountain trails and roads limit many winter riding possibilities, the mild climate along the Front Range typically allows for year-round cycling and mountain biking.

4 questions for Brandon Dwight

Boulder's Brandon "Dubba" Dwight is co-owner of Boulder Cycle Sport, one of the country's top sellers of cyclo- cross bikes, and is a member of the Boulder Cycle Sport cyclocross team.

He'll be competing in the Dec. 9 American Cycling Association State Cyclocross Championships in Boulder and the Dec. 13-16 USA Cycling Cyclo- cross National Championships in Kansas City, Kan. Dwight finished 32nd in the elite division at last year's national championships in Rhode Island.

• How did you get started in cyclo- cross?

"I got involved in cyclocross in 1997. I was doing it just as a way to train in the off-season for mountain biking. 'Cross isn't for everybody, but most people I know who give it a fair shake really like it and keep coming back to it because it's really a lot of fun."

• You stopped racing mountain bikes, but you still race 'cross. Why?

"I stuck with cyclocross mostly because I was better at it than I was at mountain biking. I really enjoyed the competition because it combined the best elements of mountain biking - which is the get-down-and-dirty, sometimes mud and the need for technical skills - with the fast-paced tactical element of high-speed road racing.There's also a really good culture around the sport. Back in the day, there really weren't any cyclocross specialists, it was just really people who loved to race. They didn't care if it was muddy or cold or snowy or wet. They just wanted to be out there."

• Why would someone want to watch a cyclocross race?

"I think cyclocross races are the best bike races to watch. Unlike a 100-mile road race where you stand there and watch the racers go by and then you don't see them again or in a mountain bike race where riders are doing hour loops, in cyclocross, the riders are coming by every six or seven minutes and you can see the lead changes and the crashes and the attacks."

• What would you suggest to a first-timer?

"Maybe hook up with someone who has done it before and get a few pointers and learn some of the basic skills. . . . It's a hard sport and if you don't know some of the basics, like how to get on and off your bike smoothly and efficiently and safely, it can be very frustrating. You don't have to have a 'cross bike. You can race on a mountain bike. We give clinics every week at our shop in Boulder for anyone who wants to learn some basic skills."

Tips for riding in winter months

Chilly Cheeks Duathlon race director Darin Eisman offers a few key tips for road riding and mountain biking during the winter months in Colorado.

• Wear brightly colored clothing so drivers can see you at dusk. For early morning or afternoon rides, always carry some kind of light source and blinking safety lights.

• Keep an eye out for black ice on the roads, especially when cornering. Also, be aware of gravel accumulation near the edge of roadways.

• Ride a wider road tire in the winter for better traction and to avoid pinch-flats from the gravel.

• Knobby mountain bike tires will still slip on ice, so consider riding slicks or tires with a less aggressive tread.

• Dress in layers because weather - temperature, wind and precipitation - will change throughout your ride.

• Always bring a windproof shell, even on nice days. Ditto for gloves and a helmet liner.

• Bring an ID card and emergency contact info when you ride. You never know when you'll get injured.

• Carrying a cell phone is always a good idea.

• Start your ride into the wind. It's much easier to finish your ride with a tailwind, and it is also much warmer than riding into the wind once you are damp with sweat.

• If you realize you're riding way faster than your ability, it usually means you are being helped along by the wind. Yes, it is fun to ride fast, but don't forget your return trip will be against that wind. Winter wind can turn a fun bike ride into a very long, slow grind.

5 ways to stay in cycling shape this winter

1. Join group rides on a regular basis. Most cycling clubs and triathlon groups welcome new riders on group rides.

2. Go to the gym. Winter is a good time to build muscle or join group spinning classes.

3. Cross-train. Maintain your fitness in the winter months by hiking, swimming, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

4. Buy new gear. Nothing motivates you to get out and ride like a new bike, helmet or jersey.

5. Take a trip. Consider a winter trip to San Diego, Sedona, Ariz., or Austin, Texas, to stay fit and motivated.What the heck is cyclocross?

Although the sport is relatively new to the United States, cyclocross has been around for more than 100 years in Europe. Legend has it that European cyclists would end their season by racing from town to town by any means necessary, even if it meant cutting through farmers' fields, carrying their bikes over fences, wading through creeks or any other shortcutting methods. Modern-day cyclocross racing simulates that rugged mentality, sending racers on short loops of courses that include mud, hills and various obstacles such as barricades, sand pits or deep ditches.

Despite the distractions and occasional need to dismount and carry the bike, most courses are 90 percent ridable but require deft bike-handling skills in precarious conditions. While that type of riding might seem akin to mountain biking, cyclocross racers use specialized bikes that incorporate the best elements of lightweight road bikes with the maneuverability and lower gear ratios of mountain bikes.

While there are pro riders and international races, including a world championship race, the sport generally attracts a mixture of road riders and mountain bikers looking for a fun way to end a challenging year of training and racing. Many triathletes, runners and adventure racers also have taken to the sport as a way to test their fitness in a different venue.

"For me, it's just a good way to have fun and do something at the end of the year that's not a running race or a triathlon," says Scott Fliegelman, of Boulder. "If you don't have a goal race for a while, it's a good time of the year to do something like that without worry about goals or specific workouts."

Cold-weather attire

To make life more comfortable and safe for cyclists, here are some useful items:

• X-Alp Mid GTX (Pearl Izumi; $150): Mountain biking in the winter means two things: cold weather and frequent dismounts because of snow, mud, closed gates and other seasonal obstacles. Broomfield-based Pearl Izumi offers the perfect solution for both situations with its X-Alp Mid GTX winter mountain bike shoe. It has a sturdy, cleated base for easy maneuvering in hike-a-bike scenarios, and it has a Gore-Tex lining to keep your feet warm and dry in cold, wet, slushy conditions.

• Thermal Tech helmet liner (Helmate; $13): Ideal for bike-riders, this keeps the head and ears covered and warm.

• Thermal Tech arm and knee/leg warmers (Pearl Izumi; $25-$45): Keeps the joints warm when temperatures fall below 50 degrees; easily removed if you get too warm.

Winter events

Here are a few winter events that can help keep you motivated and race-fit through the winter:

• Nov. 4: Boulder Cyclocross Cup, Harlow Platts Park, Boulder,

• Nov. 10: On the Cross Cyclocross Race, Cherry Hills Community Church, Highlands Ranch,

• Nov. 17: Red Rocks Velo Cross Series, State Patrol Track, Golden,

• Nov. 24: Boulder Cyclocross Series, Louisville Recreation Center, Louisville,

• Dec. 2: Red Rocks Velo Cross Series, Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood,

• Dec. 8: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon, Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, racingunderground.com

• Dec. 9: ACA State Cyclocross Championships, Boulder Reservoir, Boulder,

• Jan. 19: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon, Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, racingunderground.com

• Feb. 16: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon, Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, racingunderground.com

• Feb. 16-17: 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, Tucson, Ariz.,

Tour de Tucson

Want to train like a pro, even if you're an intermediate rider? Colorado Springs-based Carmichael Training Systems holds training camps throughout the fall, winter and spring aimed at developing cyclist abilities. Its Nov. 11-17 camp in Tucson focuses on endurance riding, coaching-based rides and riding with power. The camp fee is $2,999, but that includes accommodations, fully supported rides, individualized coaching and a power meter. Go to trainright.com for more details.

Go with a group

Sure, it can be tough to get motivated to hop on your bike when it's 38 degrees and windy outside. But that typically doesn't stop the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, which as weekend rides planned through the fall and winter. Included in the mix is theclub's New Year's Day Century Ride, a 100-miler around the metro area on Jan. 1. The group has more than 350 members and caters to recreational, intermediate and advanced riders. For more information, visit rmccrides.com